Forest Green sign Everton defender
Forest Green have swooped for Everton defender Reece Welch on a season-long loan.
Highly-rated at Goodison Park, the 19-year-old centre-back has been with the Toffees since the age of seven and has made two first-team appearances.
The 6’6” defender also has four caps for the England Under-20s side. Last October, Welch signed a new deal at Goodison Park, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2026.
After joining Rovers for the season, Welch said: “It’s great to be here. I wanted to get out on loan and get some experience. This is the next step I needed, and I can’t wait to show what I can do at Forest Green.
David Horseman commented: “This is one we’re really excited about. A big thank you to Everton for making it sure got done.
“Reece is a really physical centre-back with good mobility. He’s a lovely footballer. He arrives with good pedigree, and he’s highly rated at Everton. He will help us a lot this season.
Director of Football, Allan Steele, said: “I’ve known Reece for a while, and I’ve got no doubt that he’s going to be a great player for us this season.
“Everton have been great throughout this process, and we look forward to helping Reece in the next stage of his development.”
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The 19-year-old has made two senior appearances for the Premier League side, and has also featured for the Toffees in the EFL Trophy.
“Reece is a really physical centre-back with good mobility,” head coach David Horseman told the club website.
“He arrives with good pedigree, and he’s highly rated at Everton. He will help us a lot this season.”
Everton have been linked with a move for Gnonto throughout the summer and a report from the Daily Mail last month claimed that the Goodison Park outfit saw a £15m approach swiftly rejected. A host of players have departed Leeds since the club’s relegation to the Championship but Gnonto started Sunday’s season opener at home to Cardiff City, leading the line in the no 9 role.
Gnonto, though, was then missing from the matchday squad for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie at home to Shrewsbury Town, after which Whites boss Daniel Farke revealed that the Italian was “unavailable” but not injured.
Farke then said “nothing had changed” at Thursday afternoon’s pre-Birmingham City press conference, revealing that Gnonto had trained with the rest of the squad and was part of his plans like any other contracted player.
Dyche, meanwhile, was also asked about Gnonto at Everton’s pre-Fulham press conference on Thursday, pressed on whether there was a deal to be done for Gnonto amid an understanding that the Toffees had already had ‘approaches’ knocked back by Leeds.
“I don’t tend to speak about other players,” said Dyche. “He’s a good player, there’s lots out there. The one I will speak about is Youssef (Chermiti). He’s nearly in a situation for me to be clear on.
“It’s very close now so that’s why I am happy to speak about that one so hopefully that will get done and that’s a young player of course who can add a different layer and a different dimension to rebuilding or adding to the squad. There’s a number of players out there. I’ve said all along we are working hard, which we are doing, so let’s see what we can open up.”
